I really didn't get this
DVD at all. Even once I realized that this feature is "spring special" based
on an established serial comic book in Japan, it still made me cringe.

It would not have taken
much more than a 10 minute explanatory prologue to make the film watchable.
After, all the feature only went for 45 mins so its not like time was a
problem.

To be fair, I do have to
point out that there are some positive aspects to this DVD. It has
consistently nice animation, great environments and the plot has the potential
to develop into a light hearted drama based on the stresses of kids going
through the trials and tribulations of Tokyo University entrance exams.

Unfortunately it loses
the plot and ends up as a cross between Pokemon, Baywatch, and any daytime
soapy of the variety emanating from America.

The feature centres
around a male student named Keitaro who is doing his entrance exams for the
second time to get into Tokyo U. He appears to be a prefect at a local dorm
for students in the area along with a female dorm prefect named Naru who is
also doing her exams for the second time. The night before the final exam
Keitaro professes his feelings for Naru, and just after they nearly kiss
another female student named Shinobu walks in on them. Shinobu of course, has
a thing for Keitaro. This is the theme for the rest of the feature, Keitaro
lusts after Naru, who denies her own feelings for him, while Shinobu tries
hard to ignore her own feelings for Keitaro once she sees that he won't
reciprocate.

The day of the final
exam arrives, and Keitaro reads through the exam questions and consequently
gets so happy that he knows answers to the questions, that he starts
fantasizing about what he'll be doing next spring.

He daydreams the exam
away with the exception of the final five minutes in which he hurriedly fill
out all the answers. He then cracks it with the world once he realizes he's
blown his chances, and goes off on a fishing vessel to a pacific island to
work on an archeological dig.

From there he is
followed by Naru, Shinobu and the rest of the girls from the dorm he stays at.
Naru gets to the island first and witnesses Keitaro cavorting with a native
female, which makes her immediately think the wrong thing. Naru and Keitaro
make up, and continue on a quest to find the native girls lost guardian and an
ancient turtle civilization.

The rest of the all girl
gang finally arrive at the same island, but via ridiculous and implausible
ways that really don't make any sense unless there is some sort of history
between the girls and the characters whose transport they hijack. The
stupidest of these is a giant turtle that the younger girls use to travel to
the island.

The gang reunite at an
oasis, and consequently encounter a giant rampaging stone turtle. They are
saved by the incredibly lame singing of the native girl. Said giant turtle
then transforms into hundreds of turtles from the ancient civilization, who
amazingly change their front feet into flippers and fly away. The native girl
follows and leaves the gang.

The gang then tells
Keitaro and Naru that they both passed their exams and will get into Tokyo U.
A few more choice scenes of sentimental drivel ensue and the feature is
complete.

But wait there's more;
pathetic unnecessary body shots of the older female gang members abound, and
have no point in the plot other than as eye candy for the depraved viewer.
However, no one interested in the body shots could watch past the banality of
the first 10 minutes, so I can't understand why the director would place them
in the movie in the first place.

Final analysis; don't
waste your cash unless you are already a fan of the comic or TV series.

Video

4:3 Frame ratio. This show had nice clean serviceable
animation in the traditional Manga style. The picture is light and clean, and
easy on the eye.

Audio

Japanese and English 2.0 Dolby
English subtitles and or signs
Japanese subtitles
The soundtrack to this show is surprisingly normal, and the sound effects are
relevant to what is going on. The English translation was good, and the
English voices used were exactly right for the roles they were playing.